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Ventura's focus on who's in camp, not rumors

Dayan Viciedo battles with plate discipline and may have to vie for playing time, but could produce solid power if given regular at-bats

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- As Spring Training has progressed and Cactus League games reach double-digits played, the trade rumors have started to pick up.

Dayan Viciedo and Alejandro De Aza, the current White Sox left field tandem, have received frequent mentions in those rumors, with radio station 670 The Score reporting that Viciedo has been the topic of talks with the Mariners. Viciedo told MLB.com recently that he doesn't concern himself with off-the-field matters he can't control, and Robin Ventura didn't sound like a manager waiting for general manager Rick Hahn to pull off another trade or two.

"Right now I'm looking at it from just what's here," Ventura said Sunday. "Something could come up and that changes, but I'm preparing with this group.

"If something happens, then you can roll with it and change and go from there. Right now it is what it is here and you have to get your roster together with these guys."

Viciedo and De Aza aren't necessarily being shopped, but as Hahn made clear since the start of the offseason, pretty much anyone is open for discussion coming off of last year's 99-loss effort. Those discussions might be a little tougher to be heard if the names of Chris Sale, Avisail Garcia, Jose Abreu or Jose Quintana are mentioned.

But Hahn and the White Sox are not looking for a quick fix in return and want to enhance the reshaping program already well underway.

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.